German thrash metal veterans Exumer will release their new album "Death Mask Messiah" on 28 August through Metal Blade Records, marking the band's first studio output in seven years. The record sees the group adopting a more aggressive and direct approach than its predecessor, "Hostile Defiance", while continuing an effort to sound contemporary without abandoning their 1980s roots. It is a notable release for long-time fans, representing the band's sixth album and its fourth for Metal Blade.

The 11-track album was recorded between December 2025 and January 2026, produced by Dominic Paraskevopoulos (Kreator, Caliban) and mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Soulfly, King Diamond). It is the first Exumer record featuring the rhythm section of drummer Jerome Reil and bassist Alex Voss, and includes a guest appearance by Nasty Ronnie of Nasty Savage on a cover of that band's "Unchained Angel". Conceptually, vocalist Mem V. Stein drew on recent US politics, the pandemic and misinformation, with the title track centring on David Koresh and the Waco standoff with the Branch Davidians. The album will be issued on CD digipak, digital and several vinyl colour variants, with artwork by Björn Gooßes of Killustrations.